Orange Vanilla Fathom by Ballast Point brewing is a 7% ABV India Pale Lager made with Orange and Vanilla.

Label:A sweeter take on an award – Winning IPLOur Orange Vanilla Fathom India-Style Pale Lager continues our quest for exploration. The piney and citrus hop aromas of our India-Style Pale Lager combine with sweet orange and creamy vanilla – while staying true to classic lagering techniques. Brewed with a touch of nostalgia, it may remind you of a childhood treat, but this one is just for adults.

==Introduction==

I first tried this as my friend Augie’s friend’s house for a BeerBumz beer session. They are a close community of beer tasting enthusiasts and when I was invited for a second time, someone brought this beer. I remember it for being very delicious and easy to drink. Not to mention the fact that it was like an orange cream sickle beer. Ballast Point has been making some really nice variants of their original beers and definitely something I personally enjoy even if they do add fruit to their beers. So let’s take a look at this one and see what it is about.

Aftertaste:Finishes dry with hints of orange and vanilla in the aftertaste along with grapefruit, piney, citrus and floral hops with tropical and stone fruit hints. No alcohol in the taste. Clear golden body, smooth, crisp, clean and refreshing mouth feel with a very easy drinkability.

Overall:A very delicious and refreshing brew. Definitely Orange creamsickle beer. The vanilla and orange flavors definitely play a good role in making the sensation that this is liquid creamsickle. Some of the brews by Ballast Point have been on par while others are decent at best. This one is definitely worth the try if you like hoppy lagers but would enjoy a creamsickle brew.

Anime Corner:Kid from Chrono Cross and an original character were both used in this pairing to represent the colors of the ingredients, flavors and the label. As it goes with the theme of deep ocean and the name. Kid under the depths was a really good pairing.

Kölsch Encounters of the Briny Deep by Nubis Sanctum Ales is a 6.8% ABV German Kölsch brewed with Azzaca hops.

==Introduction==Project #22 was my first attempt at brewing very close to a light lager. I realize my Gravity was a bit much but luckily it did not get over the top. Needless to say, when I first tried it, it really felt like a clean lager even though it fermented at ale temperatures. I made this beer wanting to take a step back to the first beer I ever made. It was called A Dive Into The Pale, since it was like taking a dive into making beers for the first time. I have come a long way since that time but this time, I wanted to make a testament to what I have learned so far. I made this beer which is a style close to a lager fermented at warm temperatures because with lighter beers, it is much easier to spot off flavors. Therefore, making this one, while easy to make, the outcome would be the hardest part and taking everything I learned, I had to make sure it came out right. While brewing actual lagers requires colder temperatures and temperature control equipment, you can still make a light beer. Well, without further ado, let’s see how my lighter, clearer attempt at a beer turned out.

Aftertaste:Finishes with clean and cry with very mild tropical hints on the back end. No alcohol in the taste, Pale hay colored clear body, crisp, clean and refreshing mouth feel and easy to drink.

Overall:A very delicious Kölsch. Even though I only used one ounce of Azzaca, the flavor profiles from that small amount of hops is what really started to drive the beer along with the Kölsch yeast which I felt gave it closer to the German lager with the banana notes. The tropics were definitely from the hops. Although the beer came out a bit higher in alcohol than what I wanted, I think it still came out to a really drinkable clean beer. I will definitely make this again but the only thing I would adjust is the amount of malt I add to lower the ABV into the lager range. Despite that, for being so damn clean, clear and above the average tasting lagers, I really enjoyed what I did with this one.

Anime Corner:Kid from Chrono Cross was used for this beer and pairing as she represents the clean waters, the dive into the ocean. The name of the beer is a play at Close Encounters. In this case, Kid finding this beers is like finding gold. This beer is like the color of gold. Very nice and clear and while it is not worth millions of dollars, the taste buds seem to say otherwise.

Chronology:18 by The Bruery is a 16.6% ABV English Old Ale Aged in Bourbon Barrels for 18 months.

Label:TICK TOCK18 months Oak Aged AleThis English-Style Old Ale is the second in a chronologically aged series that will be released at 6 month intervals for a fascinating view of evolution.

Our Chronology series is an experiment with time. A single beer will aged in bourbon barrels and be released 6, 12, 18 and 24 month periods. Delicious while fresh, but existing to taste side by side upon each subsequent released as time moves forward.==Introduction==

It has been another 18 months since the release of the original Chronology. Sold to members of the Reserve and Hoarders Societies of the Bruery. This, I believe, is the last installment in the original series as in 2016 there will be a new series using a different style of beer. The other ones have been wonderful and rich and I really think time has made this one more and more complex. So now on its 18 month journey through time, let us take a look at where it is at now. Cheers!

Overall:Holy crap, the age of it has just turned this one into a magic potion. The pecan pie and banana flavors were damn straight forward in the flavors. Pretty mind blowing actually. I am not sure if the Chronology:24 was to follow but we will see as time goes on. For now, this is a must. If you can get 6, 12 or 18, just cellar them for several months to get the equivalent one or age them for years. In 2016, we will have style. Cheers!

Anime Corner:Schala from Chrono Trigger was used in this pairing as she was one of the main characters of the game in terms of time and dimension traveling. With this being the last Chrono beer in the 2015 Chronology, I felt it was right to bring forth Schala to pair with this brew. I had already used Kid from Chrono Cross on another Bruery beer but a small tribute in the pairing you see here was the least I could do. It is amazing what time does to beer and this beer was no exception. It did evolve to greatness.

Sourrento by the Bruery is a 7.7% ABV Sour Blonde Ale aged in oak barrels with Lemon Zest and Vanilla Beans.

Label: MOLTO BENE

The flavors of this bright tart ale are inspired by limoncello, the famous lemon liqueur of Sorrento, Italy.

Sourrento ale is a play on a classic liqueur from Italy. Perfect as an after dinner digestif, but just as great as any time of day. Sourrento is best enjoyed fresh, but may develop pleasantly if cellared properly.==Introduction==

This beer was released for the Reserve and Preservation Societies this December. According to the information, they were trying to make it close to limoncello, an Italian liquer which I never had. So going into this, I can only assume it would taste something like that. Nevertheless, with all reviews I do, I take it for what it is and dissect it as best I can for you. Cheers!

Overall:Very good and unique. Best if you love sours, otherwise the sweet sour aspect may not really be your thing. I have never had limoncello but if it tastes anything like this, then awesome. I would like to compare this to a sour lemon or keylime pie in a bottle. Like I said, the whole, sweet and sour thing may not be for everyone so if you really like sours then definitely try this.

Anime Corner:Kid from Chrono Cross was used in this beer pairing to pair with the colors of the label. In the game, Kid has a hard attitude even thought she looks sweet and innocent. She is a great fighter as well which is represented by the ABV of the beer. This coincides with the fact that this beer is sour but the sweetness and complexity go deep as you can see from the picture where dives into the deep. I have not done a Kid pairing in long time and the fact that her hair is also a lemon yellow works well too.

It is time for another dual review! Thanks to my friend Aaron at www.beermetaldude.com for hooking me up one again with 2 beers to do a double review. This is the second double review on this site and depending on how many beers I can find doubles of, expect more of these types. Today I bring thorough review of both these beer and also bring you forth, the finale of the story of these two beers. Yes, they have a story to tell and if you pay close attention, you will know what this is all about. This is a double IPA and a Bourbon Barrel Aged IPA. BBA IPAs are not very common so it is definitely special when one comes along. I definitely cannot wait to try these. Cheers to my loyal readers, Aaron, and the good people at Karbach brewing company for making this a possibility once again and… on with the SHOW!

Label: It’s a job. And a hazardous one at that. Benefits, you ask? I hardly think so. But the show must go on. So, it’s with bravado that the Rodeo Clown takes his place in the arena lights. Whether or not he’s insane is not important right now. It’s with grit and intensity that the Clown steps in the path of almost certain destruction. ___

Aftertaste: Honey, caramel, tangerine marmalade, piney and grapefruit residual hops. No alcohol in the taste but a sipping beer none the less with some syrupy aspects to it. Very delightful!

Overall: A very good DIPA which aligns itself with the more malty caramel and tropical types of double IPAs with the hops still there lending a hand to remind you it is an IPA but more on the sweeter side. Drinks more on the Barleywine side, but that is not bad in any way. Although, if you like more hop bite in your IPA than sweet, you will need to decide if this one is right for you. I almost feel like this reminds me of Dogfish Head 120, except not as complex but the hop oils and syrupy mouthfeel make it so.

Label: While Rodeo Clown might have funny names like Scooter of Flint, this job is serious stuff. In fact, in this line of work it’s not if you ‘re going to get hurt, but how bad! When face with almost certain doom, there is one place where the Rodeo Clown can find safe harbor. The barrel, AKA the Clown Lounge, allows out hero to dodge destruction and regain composure strength.

This double IPA has been aged for six months in bourbon barrels, safely waiting and gaining power until it’s time to step back into action. Full-bodied with a lingering bitterness and rounded malt complexity, sip slowly on this bull of a beer and allow the flavors to take you into the bright arena lights. It’s time to answer the call. F.U.N Series 009 2014 ___

Aftertaste: Caramel, vanilla, maple, grapefruit marmalade, rye bread, whiskey, earthy hops, marshmallows and maple syrup. No alcohol in the taste yet a very sipping style of beer. While the body is kind of clear, the mouthfeel is full and syrupy.

Overall: Damn!! This one is definitely evolved from the original Rodeo Clown. This reminds me a lot of the Double Bastard aged in Bourbon or the Ruination in bourbon barrels, this is freaking delicious There is only the subtle hop presence to remind you of what this once was. Certainly a must find if you live in Texas and one I really wish I could find here in California. There aren’t many Bourbon Barrel IPA but of the many I have had they are all awesome and this one is just as exceedingly great!

————————— Overall (Both Beers): Like night and day, Good and Evil, Stable and Twisted, Order and Chaos. The difference is insane and it is not a difference between the expected bitterness vs. sweet, NO! We are referring to the sweet caramel DIPA that becomes a complex sweeter yet mysterious monster after sitting and aging in the dark. Overall, I loved them both but it was obvious that the 009 was gonna be the better and stronger of the 2 due to the bourbon aging prospect.

Anime Corner (Both Beers): Harle from Chrono Cross and Hatsune Miku were used in these 2 pairing because I wanted to express something that relates to the colors, the clown aspect and the difference of the over beers (Good vs. Evil). We start with Sweet Harle who matched the colors perfectly of the Rodeo Clown but is also sweet yet hides something mysterious (The underlying hops). After Harle sits for 6 months she emerges as Hatsune Miku with a demented, yet evil, yet sweet looking , still mysterious aspect of flavors and showing the night and day aspect I was referring to before. We finish the Show Of Life with Hatsune in the White Dress, demented yet balanced reminding herself of what she used to be, yes she is and will always be the Rodeo Clown, whether the sun or the moon ever come, and yet her dreams will come true as she is, the star of the Show of Life! ………. FIN! Rating: 4.75/5* Rodeo Clown Double IPA Rating: 5.35/5* F.U.N. Series 009 Clown Lounge